Frantic Rally Falls Just Short - University of Oregon Athletics

Monday, November 9

Phoenix, AZ

7 p.m.

University of Oregon

2-1,0-0Big Ten

Grand Canyon

2-0,0-0Mountain West

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Oregon	13	15	21	25	74
Grand Canyon	21	25	11	24	81

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The Oregon women's basketball team takes on Grand Canyon at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. on Nov. 9, 2026.

Photo by: GoDucks.com

11/09/26 | Women's Basketball

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Ducks suffer first loss at GCU, 81-74.

PHOENIX — Even in just the first three games of the new season, Oregon has proven that no one's lead is ever safe.

The Ducks attempted a second straight double-digit comeback, trailing by 18 points at halftime before cutting it a one-point game late in the fourth quarter. But Oregon's furious rally came up short in an 81-74 setback to Grand Canyon at Global Credit Union Arena on Monday night.

"In true Oregon fashion, we dug ourselves out and gave ourselves a chance to win in the end, which I'm really proud of," said UO coach Kelly Graves. "But we can't' do that night in and night out."

After going to the halftime locker room trailing 46-28, the Ducks (2-1) outscored GCU (2-0) 46-25 in the second half. Three consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth, the final one from Mallory Heyer, brought the Ducks all the way back to within a point with 2:38 remaining.

The Antelopes were able to withstand UO's signature comeback bid, chiefly due to a 15-of-17 effort from the free throw line in the fourth.

"I thought (Grand Canyon) had a good game plan," Graves added. "You could tell they were hungry, it was an 'up' game. The crowd was amazing, great student support, and we just fell short. But hopefully, it's something we learn from."

Heyer's final 3-pointer, her fifth of the night, lifted her to exactly 1,000 career points, as the fifth-year senior scored 16 on the night.

The Oregon women's basketball team takes on Grand Canyon at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. on Nov. 9, 2026.

Heyer was one of four Ducks to score in double figures, along with Ari Long (19), Ehis Etute (16) and Katei Fiso (14). Etute also grabbed 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

GCU went 9-of-13 from beyond the 3-point line while Oregon was 9-for-30. The Lopes also went 26-for-29 from the charity stripe and shot 47 percent from the field overall.

How It Happened: Etute produced the game's first basket with a quick putback after grabbing an offensive board. After GCU missed its first field goal try, it went on to make its next five shots, including three 3-points to claim an early 13-7 lead. The Lopes' lead would grow to eight at the end of the opening quarter, as they held the Ducks scoreless over the final 2:33.

Fiso accounted for nine of UO's 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including Oregon's only triple of the quarter. The Ducks went 1-of-6 from deep while GCU hit on 4-of-6 tries in the first quarter.

The Antelopes scored the first six points of the second quarter as part of a 14-5 spurt to stretch its lead to 35-18 midway through the frame. The Ducks responded by scoring the next five points behind a 3-pointer from Heyer and a jumper from Etute, but the deficit swelled to 18 points at the break, 46-28.

The Oregon women's basketball team takes on Grand Canyon at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. on Nov. 9, 2026.

GCU's offense shot at a 63 percent clip, hitting 7-of-9 shots from behind the arc and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Conversely, UO went 3-for-11 from the 3-point line and shot 34 percent from the field overall.

Etute begun the second half by converting an and-one on a second-chance layup, kickstarting a 5-0 run to open the third. Oregon held GCU without a field goal over the first three minutes and outscored the Lopes 12-5 over the first five minutes to cut its deficit to 51-40. The Ducks shot 7-for-16 in the third, putting up 21 points to GCU's 10.

The Lopes went just 4-for-12 in the quarter while UO forced five turnovers to claw back into the game, trailing by eight entering the final stanza, 57-49.

The Ducks continued to eat into GCU's lead with scoring runs of five, eight and six points, with the latter bringing them within a point, 70-69, on a corner three from Heyer with 2:38 on the clock. Oregon had chances to tie the game, but the Antelopes answered with five straight points to push their lead back to six with just over a minute to play and held on for a seven-point victory.

Up Next: The Ducks continue their three-game road trip on Wednesday at Vermont (1 p.m. PT, ESPN+).